Analog Modulation
Modulation
Modulation is defined as the process of superimposing a low-frequency signal on a high-
frequency carrier signal.
The process of varying the RF carrier wave in accordance with the information in a low
frequency signal.
Baseband: Data transmitted without modulation
Carrier: Data transmitted with modulation
Need for Modulation
1. Practical Length of Antenna:
For the effective transmission of a signal, the height h of the antenna should be comparable to
the wavelength λ of the signal at least the height of the antenna h should be λ / 4 in length so
that the antenna can sense the variations of the signal properly.
The low-frequency message signal has a very high value of λ which will require a very high
antenna (practically not possible).
For example: If we have to transmit a signal of 20 kHz then λ = C / f and height of the
antenna h ≈ λ where C is the wave velocity, here C = 3 × 108 m/s.
h ≈ λ = (3 × 108) / (20 × 103)
h = 15 km.
Hence, we need to modulate the message signal over the high-frequency carrier signal so that
we can have a practical value for the height h of the antenna.
2. Narrow Banding of Signal
An audio signal usually has a frequency range (20 Hz to 20 kHz), if it is directly transmitted
then the ratio of highest to the lowest frequency becomes (20 kHz / 20 Hz) = 1000. But if this
audio signal is modulated over a carrier signal of frequency 1000 kHz then the ratio of highest
to the lowest frequency becomes:
(1000 kHz + 20 kHz) / (1000 kHz + 20 Hz) ≅ 1.2
Hence, we need modulation to convert a wideband signal into a narrow band signal.
3. Frequency Multiplexing
It is practically not possible to distinguish between the different audio signals when transmitted
simultaneously through a single antenna as all of them lie in the same spectral range. Hence,
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each of these signals is translated to a low-frequency range before transmission which makes it
quite easier to recover them and distinguish each of them from one another at the receiver’s
end.
4. Effective Power Radiated By Antenna
Power radiated by an antenna ∝ (l / λ)2 where l is the length of the antenna and λ is the
wavelength of the signal which is to be transferred through the antenna. This relation clearly
shows that when signals having a low frequency and high wavelength is transmitted directly
the power radiated by the antenna is very low and the signal will vanish after traveling some
distance.
Hence, to transmit such signals over long distances, we superimpose these low-frequency
signals over the carrier signal having a high frequency and short wavelength so that the power
radiated by the antenna of the same length will be very large.
Amplitude Modulation
Amplitude Modulation is a technique by which the amplitude of the carrier wave is changed
according to the signal wave or modulating signal.
Modulation Index
Modulation Index is defined as the ratio of the amplitude of the modulating signal and the
amplitude of the carrier signal. It is denoted by ‘m’
Modulation Index m = Vm/Vc
Modulation Index is also known as Modulation factor, Modulation coefficient or degree of
modulation
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When m=0 no modulation, when m=1 100% modulation, when m>1 over modulation,
when m <1 Under modulation
Time Domain and Frequency Domain Description
It is the process where, the amplitude of the carrier is varied proportional to that of the
message signal.
Let m (t) be the base-band signal, m (t) ←→ M (ω) and c (t) be the carrier, c(t) = Ac cos(ωct).
fc is chosen such that fc >> W, where W is the maximum frequency component of m(t).
The amplitude modulated signal is given by
s(t) = Ac [1 + kam(t)] cos(ωct)
Fourier Transform on both sides of the above equation
S(ω) = π Ac/2 (δ(ω - ωc) + δ(ω + ωc)) + kaAc/ 2 (M(ω - ωc) + M(ω + ωc))
ka is a constant called amplitude sensitivity.
kam(t) < 1 and it indicates percentage modulation.
Amplitude modulation in time and frequency domain
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Frequency Domain characteristics of single tone AM
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Types of Amplitude Modulation
Double Sideband-Full Carrier Modulation (DSB-FC)
Double Sideband-suppressed Carrier Modulation (DSB-SC)
Single Sideband Modulation (SSB)
Vestigial Sideband Modulation (VSB)
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